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Lipid composition of human intracranial tumors: A biochemical study

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Summary

The lipid composition of different types of human intracranial tumors, including gliomas, meningeomas and neurinomas, and of adult human brain tissue was analyzed.

Gliomas have a higher lipid content than have the other tumors, but a lower lipid content than normal nervous tissue. Intracranial tumors have a relatively high quantity of sterol-esters, glycerol-esters and free fattyacids, besides free sterols and non-dialysable lipids.

The fatty acid pattern from the different lipid classes has been established using a gas chromatographic technique. Some interesting differences have been found between the different types of tumors, and between tumors and normal nervous tissue.

Phospholipids were fractionated into four classes: in intracranial tumors a relatively high percentage of lecithins, with smaller percentages of cephalins, sphingomyelins and lysolecithins have been found.

Zusammenfassung

Der Lipid-Gehalt von verschiedenen intracraniellen Tumoren, darunter Gliome, Meningiome und Neurinome, und von Hirngewebe erwachsener Menschen wurde analysiert.

Gliome haben einen höheren Lipid-Gehalt als die anderen Tumoren, aber einen niedrigeren Lipid-Gehalt als normales Nervengewebe. Intracranielle Tumoren haben einen relativ hohen Anteil von Sterol-Estern, Glycerol-Estern und freien Fettsäuren, neben freien Sterolen und nicht dialysierbaren Lipiden.

Der Fettsäureanteil der verschiedenen Lipidarten wurde unter Verwendung einer Gas-Chromatographie-Technik bestimmt. Es wurden einige interessante Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Tumorarten und zwischen Tumoren und normalem Hirngewebe gefunden.

Die Phospholipide wurden in 4 Gruppen fraktioniert: In intracraniellen Tumoren fand sich ein relativ hoher Prozentsatz von Lecithin, bei kleineren Prozentsätzen von Cephalin, Sphingomyelin und Lysolecithin.

Résumé

Analyse de la composition lipidique de différents types de tumeurs intracrâniennes chez l'homme, comprenant des gliomes, des méningiomes et des neurinomes, et du tissu cérébral de l'homme adulte.

Les gliomes contiennent plus de lipides que les autres tumeurs mais moins que le tissu nerveux normal. Les tumeurs intracrâniennes ont une quantité relativement importante de stérol-esters, de glycérol-esters et d'acides gras libres, à côté de stérols libres et de lipides non-dyalisables.

Les types d'acides gras venant de différentes classes de lipides ont été établis d'après une technique chromatographique des gaz. Quelques différences intéressantes ont été notées entre les différents types de tumeurs, et entre les tumeurs et le tissu nerveux normal.

Les phospholipides ont été divisés en quatre classes: on a trouvé dans les tumeurs intracrâniennes un pourcentage de lécithines, avec des pourcentages plus petits de céphalines, de sphingomyelines et de lysolécithines.

Riassunto

La composizione lipidice di differenti tipi di tumori endocranici nell'uomo, comprendenti gliomi, meningiomi e neurinomi e di tessuto cerebrale normale è state analizzata.

I gliomi hanno un più alto contenuto di lipidi degli altri tumori, ma più basso del tessuto nervoso normale.

I tumori endocranici hanno una relativamente alta quantité di esteri degli steroli, di gliceridi e di acidi grassi liberi, oltre che steroli liberi e lipidi non-dializzabili.

I quadri degli acidi grassi delle differenti classi di lipidi sono stati stabiliti usando una tecnica gas-cromatografica. Sono state trovate alcune interessanti differenze tra i vari tipi di tumori e tra tumori e tessuto nervoso normale.

I fosfolipidi sono stati frazionati in quattro classi: nei tumori endocranici è stata trovata una percentuale relativamente alta di lecitina con più piccole percentuali di cefalina, sfingomielina e lisolecitina.

Resumen

Se analiza la composición lípida de los diferentes tipos de tumores intracraneales del hombre, comprendiendo los gliomas, meningiomas y neurinomas así como también del tejido cerebral del hombre adulto.

Los gliomas contienen más lipidos que los otros tumores, pero menos que el tejido nervioso normal. Los tumores intracraneales tienen una cantidad relativamente importante de esterol-esteres, de glicerol-esteres y de acidos grasos libres, al lado de esteroles libres y lípidos no-dializables.

Los tipos de acidos grasos proviniendo de diferentes clases de lípidos han sido establecidos según una técnica cromatográfica de los gases. Se han anotado algunas diferencias interesantes entre los diferentes tipos de tumores y entre los tumores y el tejido nervioso normal.

Los fosfolípidos se han dividido en cuatro clases: en los tumores intracraneales se ha encontrado un porcentaje de lecitinas elevado con un porcentaje menor de cefalinas, esfingomielinas y lisolecitinas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosurgical Clinic, University of Milano, Italy

    K. Gopal, E. Grossi, P. Paoletti & M. Usardi

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  1. K. Gopal
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  2. E. Grossi
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  3. P. Paoletti
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  4. M. Usardi
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Gopal, K., Grossi, E., Paoletti, P. et al. Lipid composition of human intracranial tumors: A biochemical study. Acta neurochir 11, 333–347 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402012

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